Trump Plans Direct Call With Taiwan's President
Trump said he will call Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te directly. This would break over 40 years of diplomatic rules.
US and Taiwanese presidents have not spoken directly since 1979. That was when the US shifted its recognition to Beijing instead of Taiwan.
Trump broke this rule before as president-elect in 2016. He called Taiwan's then-president and China formally complained.
Trump said he will discuss a $14 billion US arms sale during the call. He has called the sale a useful tool in talks with China.
Taiwan's President Lai said Thursday he would be happy to speak with Trump. The call is likely to anger China.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway region and opposes high-level US contact with it. Last week China's President Xi Jinping warned that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflicts.
Key Terms 3
- diplomatic protocol Agreed rules about how countries officially communicate with each other
- diplomatic recognition When a country officially accepts another government as legitimate
- breakaway province A region China claims belongs to it but governs itself independently